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Sunday, September 8, 2013

CITY OF MEN (2007)

Directed By: Paulo Morelli Written By: Elena Soarez Story By: Elena Soarez & Paulo Morelli Cinematography By: Adriano Goldman Editor: Daniel Rezende Cast: Douglas Silva, Darlan Cunha, Jonathan Haggensen, Rodrigo Dos Santos, Camila Monteiro, Naima Silva
In the slum in Morro da Sinuca, a couple of days before turning eighteen year-old, Laranjinha tells his best friend and also orphan Acerola that he misses his unknown father. Acerola decides to help his needy friend to find his father and they discover that he is in prison convicted for killing a man during a robbery and near to be released on parole. Meanwhile, Acerola's wife and babysitter Cris is invited to work in São Paulo and she sees the chance to raise money to buy a house of her own; she tells Acerola that he must take care of their son Clayton alone for one year. When the owner of the hill and Laranjinha's cousin Madrugadão is betrayed by his right-hand Nefasto, he is expelled from the slum and Laranjinha and Acerola have also to leave the hill. While Madrugadão plots a plan to invade and recover the hill with the support of the gang of the drug lord from Morro do Careca, Acerola and Laranjinha unravel the past of their fathers.

Not as good as city of god, but it's hard to compare. Any film to a modern classic. This is not entirely a sequel, no recurring characters but returning actors who played smaller roles in city of god come back as different characters. Now only we are brought to the same neighborhood modern day 30 years
Later.

This is kind of the series finale for the spinoff television series of the original film. The film retains alot of the main themes and characters from the tv series. For those of you who might have missed the show don't worry there are a few flashbacks to guide you and the film isn't hard to understand if you haven't

On the search for his father they get answers that may have been better left a mystery.

The themes I am speaking of ate the lead character Wallace's search for his father and his friend ace's still dealing with being a young father and husband as a gang war escalates in a fight for power and control of the slums. Both characters are pulled into it against their wills and even though they are both on the same side find hems elves enemies, will they be able to unite they bond again or will they let their differences tear them apart?

What I like about this film is that it is so unpredictable, with most films you know which way it is going to go but with this film even though it is a movie It can come off like a documentary while staying true to the situations and characters while not as kinetic and sharp as City of god. It earns credit on it's own by being original and it's own movie.

Even though the citizens living in the slums are lining in A third world country the land Is so naturally beautiful as are the people. You have to admire them for making the best out of what they can for survival.

The first film focused on the drug dealers and the community was in the background. This film switches it up where the inner workings of the community and it's citizens are the main focus and the drug dealers are more in the background, also in the forefront.
--If you haven't guessed already the theme of the film is fatherhood what it really takes to be a father not just make, raise, nurture, teach and make your child responsible.

Either way the film is shockingly beautiful and unpredictable. It's a must see and home library addition